Winning is the best medicine, and nothing cures a six-game skid like winning big.
The Wisconsin softball team got back on track at Valpo Softball Field in Valparaiso, Ind., Wednesday night, drubbing the host Crusaders 9-0. Badger senior shortstop Kristin Zacher went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and sophomore center fielder Samantha Polito scored three runs and went 2-of-4 as the Badgers (3-5 Big Ten, 13-17 overall) scored nine runs on nine hits.
The pitching, hitting and defense finally all came together for Wisconsin as sophomore pitcher Eden Brock and senior Katie Layne combined to give up one hit and zero runs in five innings of combined work.
The Crusaders (3-9 Mid-Continent Conference, 3-28 overall) were quite the opposite, committing five errors, recording four strike-outs and only putting two runners on base.
Polito got things rolling for the Badgers in the top of the first inning. After she singled to start the game, Polito advanced to second on a failed Valparaiso pick-off attempt. Freshman designated hitter Katie Hnatyk moved Polito to third on a ground-ball out to first base. Zacher singled Polito in for the first run and her first RBI of the game.
Brock gave up her lone hit of the game in the second inning-a double to Crusader first baseman Courtney LaFerle. Valparaiso could not mount any more offense, leaving one runner stranded.
In the third inning, sophomore third baseman Athena Vasquez was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Wisconsin never looked back. The Badgers' offense exploded for five runs as Zacher singled to center field with one out to drive Vasquez home for the first score.
With Polito sitting at third, Zacher stole second and senior catcher Boo Gillette plated Polito to put the Badgers up 3-0. Senior left fielder Anastasia Miller reached base on a fielder's choice, knocking in Zacher, as Gillette advanced to second on a Crusader throwing error. But the Badgers were far from being done.
After Gillette was caught at third, senior first baseman Meghann Reiss moved to second on the Crusaders' third error of the inning, as Miller crossed the plate for the unearned run. With Reiss at second, senior right fielder Natalie Phillips singled to drive Reiss home for the run as the Badgers ended their offensive outburst to go up 6-0.
The Badgers added three more runs in the fourth inning as Polito led off the inning with a single up the middle. Hnatyk followed with a single and Zacher ripped a double to right field to plate Polito. After a Gillette ground-out and Miller strike-out, Reiss reached base on the Crusaders' fifth error of the game as Zacher and Hnatyk crossed home for the winning margin of 9-0.
The Badgers return to Madison for their final Big Ten home stand Friday and Saturday against Michigan State.
-Compiled from staff reports
